About Africa
All grades, K through adult.

Paul Tracey’s deep respect for the culture of Africa is evident in this lively, instructive and entertaining introduction to some of Africa’s peoples. The program touches on languages, costumes, dance, stories, but particularly the music and musical instruments. Paul brings a trunk full of these instruments which he demonstrates, along with recordings of authentic music.

If your school is doing a unit on Africa, Paul is able to make the cultural aspect come to life with his first hand experience of the country.

Here's the start of the folk tale that Paul often tells: Nyangara, the Python

Paul’s father, Dr. Hugh Tracey, was a leading authority on African culture and founded The International Library of African Music. For the past 30 years, Paul’s brother, Dr. Andrew Tracey, ran this library at Rhodes University as a performance and research center.

Curriculum:  Africa, folk cultures. An ideal program to get children excited about looking further into the subject, and for African Americans a fascinating look into the value of their cultural heritage.

Administrator's comment at Hoover High School, Fresno, CA, February, 2005:

"That was awesome! You had them mesmerized!"

Book this performance.

                 Specially appropriate during February - Black History month.

FEBRUARY 2007:

We would recommend Paul Tracey's "About Africa" presentation to any student audience, particularly during February, Black History Month. Paul is quite the historian, musician, and linguist. Our students were so engaged, that any 'shhh,' came from STUDENTS, not the teachers!!"

Again, thank you.
Charlene Kiyuna, GIS, Fort Washington Elementary School, Fresno, CA

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From The Placentia news-Times, February 2007:

The theme at Wagner Elementary School this year is "Wild About Education" and it was a wild night indeed when more than 100 students and guests feasted on the sights and sounds presented by the talented Paul Tracey in his "About Africa" show.

Tracey's knowledge and deep respect of Africa were evident in this show that touched on geography, costumes, cultures, language, and included demonstrations of dance, vocal and instrumental music."

From kids’ letters: “Dear Mr. Tracey, I was flabbergasted at your performance. You satisfied me with the instruments. I also learned a lot about Africa. Sincerely, Tiana”

.... I liked the part were you were dancing. It looked funny but I didn’t laugh. I know I am suppose to respect other culters so I didn’t laugh.....”

Music Center on Tour evaluation: “Paul Tracey is, indeed, one of your most outstanding artists. Keep him forever! What a contribution he makes to the cultural enrichment of all those who are fortunate enough to know him!”

“Excellent! Punctual. Mr. Tracey was much better at crowd control than most. Well prepared and unusual. Wonderful assembly - everyone enjoyed it very much!”

Performing Tree evaluation: “Paul Tracey is a very talented performer. I felt he taught children on all levels about the different cultures in Africa through interesting music, dance and stories.”

“Very unusual presentation of music, culture and geography. Presenter was very professional, enthusiastic, colorful and caught the children’s attention.”

Letters from 7th graders after attending “ABOUT AFRICA” - December 04. Paul has been to this school 8 times and every year since 2001.

(spelling as is)

•I learned a hole bunch and hope you could do it next year for the next seventh graders. I think they will enjoy it a hole bunch too. Snice we are studing Africa it gave me a hole new perspective of Africa. I thank you and hope to see you next year. (What? He’s going to be held back in 7th grade?)

•It fascinates me that the culture of Africa is so amazing.

•I think it’s kind of embarrassing, but that’s what you do. All the motions get me interrested. I’m sorry to say I can’t remember the words and I didn’t applaude. Mentally, I congratulate you.

•Because of you I can go to Africa and not be a bump on a log.

Paul demonstrates the Hugh Tracey Kalimba.

•You were amazing talented. It makes me think how you can be up to 3 people at a time! (I think he means how I tell the story of Nyangara)

• I really appreciate you coming. You have taught me alot about African music. You are so energetic. How do you get energetic like that. You’re funnier than my dad.

• The assembly was great. It probably wouldn’t be as good if Mr Tracy didn’t do it for us. He was very energetic and funny.

• He could do traditional African dances as if he was a native, he could speak Zulu without an accent,....

• He is very fast with his his hands and thumbs..... most people can’t do those things here.

• In the Africa assembly, I found Mr. Tracey most entertaining. He seemed to remember everything he needed to say and play. His music skills rock.

• Keep doing what you do!

DISCOVERING AFRICAN CULTURE AT THE VILLAGE SCHOOL

On Monday morning May 6th, Village School students were astonished to see a tall man, covered with blankets and pieces of fur, dance to the front of their assembly. Paul Tracey, playing a guitar, an intricately woven straw hat perched on his head, stamped his gum-boot-shod feet to the beat of African music, as rattles tied to his boots made percussive rhythmic accompaniment.

Mr. Tracey proceeded to turn astonishment into delight as he lead the students in an exploration of the many different cultures of Africa through music, dance, and storytelling.

“Most of us learn about other places from television and the movies,” he said, “As a result, many of us believe that Africa is nothing but jungles and tom-toms. I was privileged to be exposed to African culture at a young age when my father, a farmer in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), took up the study of African music full time -- I fell in love with it and have made it part of my mission to expose children to these rich traditions, so that they can fall in love, too.”

The Village School students were rapt as Mr. Tracey played a talking drum from the Congo, small and large drums from Uganda and Victoria Falls, an mbira dza vadzimu (or metal thumb piano) from Zimbabwe, and a series of horns made from cow, impala, and kudu antelope.

Mr. Tracey larded his performance with tantalizing bits of information: the rattles on his gum boots were made from caterpillar cocoons; drums should always be listened to at loud volume otherwise one will hear only the lowest notes; African drummers play not only with their hands, but also with their elbows. Through his constantly engrossing musical narrative, he introduced students to the names of different African countries, as well as to simple phrases such as “Good Day” and “Thank you.”

“My favorite part was the story about the snake,” a Kindergartner said, as her classmates nodded in agreement, “Because we were able to sing the magic song that the children sing in the story.”

When Mr. Tracey opened the assembly up for questions, red-shirted arms shot into the air. “What is your favorite instrument?” a fourth grader asked, “Which ever one I’m playing at the time,” Mr. Tracey responded. Finally the children tore themselves away, heading back to class to the beat of recorded African chants.

While Paul Tracey took Village School students beyond the African stereotypes of jungles and tom-toms, Village School inspired Mr. Tracey, who’s performed his show in hundreds of schools around Los Angeles, to look beyond his stereotypes, too. “Kids from a privileged neighborhood are often far more undisciplined than kids from the ghetto,” he said, “What a delight for me to find that this was one of the best audiences I could hope to meet.” The assembly, sponsored by the Village School Diversity Committee, was a wonderful testament to the value of overcoming stereotypes and “celebrating differences.” --- Jan Eliasberg